bilder516

Hell-oh-weekend

2009-11-01T17:48:45Z

Hannah told me I should write more. I figured she was right. And after this weekend I can't think of a better thing to be doing. So here ya go.

*Disclaimer* I know some people know about what has been going on, and some people don't. But for the sake of everyone involved, I am going to leave names out of this post for most of this post. If they do read this, they will know who I am talking about so I am not too worried.

I had a pretty hectic weekend. On Friday, I had my last mid-term. Aware that I had a late band practice coming up, I had planned on going home and resting up. This did not happen. When I left my mid-term, my phone was already filled to the brim with unread texts. It turns out one of my closest friends has parted with his band. Being all to familiar with this situation and these feelings, I rushed to him to make sure everything was ok. He seems to be taking it very well, I just want him to know that I am there for him no matter what. After this, we went to Vibe. I worked doors for the whole night. The last band for what ever reason played a lot longer then what their set was and while doing so, made me so late for practice that we just canned the idea.

After the show, I picked up a friend from the train station, met up with some other friends and went to a party. Tired and a little frustrated with the days events, I am only thinking about getting drunk so I can forget about it. Thank god the kids from my high school class only drink 2 sips of beer and leave the can. At the end of the night, I drank about a 12 pack for free. We all went out to Huntington for cold cheese pizza and at about 4 am we went home.

Now with all my frustration and drinking, I had completely forgot that I had a car appointment and needed to be up by 7. 7 comes around and I am still pretty drunk. I drive to the shop, drop off my car, and stumble around Hicksville shit hammered. My friend picked me up and took me to his apartment where I passed out while he went to work. When I woke up it was a few hours later, I called to see if I can get my car. No dice. I hung out for a bit. It is now 1 pm. I call agin and still, no developments with my car. This is now turning into a problem. There was a show at Vibe that I told some people I would take them to, but this can't happen with no car. My dad calls the place and curses out some guy. They call me and tell me that I should come get my car without any work being done on it because of this. I go over with my dad and sort out the problem. I now have my car, and am 2 hours late for the show. I grab my friends and shoot on over.

Fun side note. First time ever Patent Pending dedicated a song to me. Felt pretty cool.

The show ends, and now it is time to start getting ready for the nights festivities. We were all invited to a party at our friends house for a Halloween party (Which I am going to say was the nicest party I have ever been to. The preparations were very well done and everything was great. Props Vicky!). The only problem was that 2 girls whom I happen to be friends with are having some problems with each other. I am now trying to once again coordinate everyone so that the night runs smoothly and problem free. I spend about 3 hours doing this and in the end one girl didn't show up. This also resulted in my friend who left his band not coming either. Kind of upsetting but understandable.

While I was in the middle of all this prep work. I get a call that my girlfriend was just in a car accident and was leaving the hospital. I call her to make sure everything is ok (and it is) and I am worked up into a frenzy. The last thing I want is something bad to happen to her and I will admit that was one of the scary moments in my life.

After I am done figuring out what everyone is going to and that my girlfriend was alright, I headed to the party. I did not hesitate to start drinking due to the fact that once again, I just wanted to forget about everything. I drank close to a full bottle of gin and got sick. Thank you to all my friends that looked after me last night, it is greatly appreciated. I am one of the luckiest guys in the world to have such great friends, and I do not deserve them.

I woke up this morning feeling a million different things. I am sorry to anyone who's night I made more complicated then it should have been.

I have tried to end this 15 different ways, and I did not like any of them so I am just going to do what I have been doing all weekend and be blunt.
The end.

Today was a sad day for music...

2009-10-29T03:22:45Z

First off, if you are reading this, thanks. It has been awhile since my life story which I still intend to rewrite with more feeling once I get the time. But yea, if you still check this or if you are checking it out for the first time now, thanks.

It is really upsetting that I am sitting here writing this, but today was just too sad for me not to. It is also weird because someone told me that if I wrote a blog a lot of people would read it, and here I am, 6 hours later, writing a blog. Anyway...

Today I decided to visit the theater guild at my old high school. This was the first time I payed a visit to them and there was a lot of people I missed and wanted to see. Unfortunately, I saw somethings that urked me a little.

It turns out, there are some people who feel they know a little more about music then they actually do. As my old teacher Mr. March sat at the piano frustrated, I went over and asked him what was going on. It turned out that a student felt she knew more then my teacher and took over the rehearsal. The sad thing is, she had no idea what she was doing. She was counting of a song that was in 3/4 in 4/4. When I told her that this was wrong, she didn't seem to believe me. I also went to visit the pit orchestra. As much as I would like to say that I think that this is just the way it sounds because its so early in the production, I can't. The strings have always sounded off and I believe this is simply because someone is too lazy to tune any of the strings. But this is the first time I have ever heard such a weak horn section. I don't get it. What happened to the passion that was in the musicians at the high school? I wish I knew. This was only that start of what soon became a more depressing day.

I went to the Finch show at the Donkey and saw a band called Drop Dead Gorgeous. They sucked really hard. This wasn't the upsetting part. The upsetting part is when the bass player kicked a security guard in the face. Now this pissed me off because this band has no talent, and they act like they are hot shit. There is nothing wrong with sucking, just don't act like your good. Side note, I am pretty sure the singer was lip syncing.

Next Finch played. I fucking love Finch and they killed it. But the crowd was disrespectful and actually gave a better response to the band I wish would literally "drop dead". It sucks to see a band that has been pushing for so long get over looked by talentless garbage in tight pants.

I am in now way saying that everyone should like Finch, I am saying that more people should give credit where credit is due. And I am going to do that now. I am going to credit myself. I am going to credit myself as a more reliable source of what is talent and what is not. Finch is talent. Drop Dead Gorgeous is noise. You can like noise and thats fine but don't disrespect real musicians. That kid who was making shadow puppets their whole set. You better hope I never see you at another show, cause I will murder you. If you think your hands are more interesting then the band playing, go jerk off.

The saddest of all was on the ride home. I was talking to my good friend Matt, from my old band Valet Parking (check that shit, new drummer is off the fucking chain). It turns out that one of our friends bands is having band "meetings". Wait, I know what your thinking, and your wrong. At these meetings they don't talk about their band but their business. This is so so sad to me. I understand that the dream is to make it big. Everyone in a band knows that. But when other aspects that are not music are found more important then the music, something is wrong. What happened to being genuine? I have always been in it for my love of music. Yes making it big would be great, but playing always comes first. I live by a lyric. This lyric was written by Fat Mike of NOFX. It was on Dinosaurs will die off Pump up the Valium. "Music written from devotion
Not ambition, not for fame"

What happened to that idea, how come now a days it seems like everyone is singing the opposite.

Today was a sad day for music...

Its been awhile

2009-07-13T05:50:56Z

So I have not updated since the novel. I do not know why but thats just the way things go. Since then, I have joined and recored with a new band, made awesome new friends and got back in touch with old friends. Not to mention graduating high school and getting in college. I feel so odd about the entire thing. I want to move on, and at the same time I don't want to let go. The word I over use now more then ever is nostalgic, because thats what I am. I can't help it. Most people said they hated high school, I didn't. I enjoyed every moment. And I still am. The last few weeks have been spent with the greatest people in the world. And through this I have created my own world. A utopia if you will. All the worries are gone in this world. We have each other and some substance and thats all we need. Not a care in the world. But I know this will soon come to an end, as all good things do. I just really don't want to watch this end, even though I still have more then half of summer left. I'm gonna end this now, and write.

Sequal?

2009-03-31T11:13:11Z

No, simply because not much has happened since the last time I wrote in here. BUT! After hearing how much all of you liked my life story, I decided to read it myself. Reading and writing are two very different things. I noticed that I had left a lot out of my life. I didn't mention one cruise, fight, show other then Calvary or any family other then my mom and brother. And that I also failed to really develop and character past the point of me meeting them. So what I might do depending on requests I get from you guys, is redo my life story, but instead of summing up my entire life, I will do one grouping of events at a time. I think this will be more interesting to read and will most likely explain more about the other people in my life. So it will kind of be just a collection of stories based upon my life. So if you guys are down to read it, I will be more then down to write it!

Chapter 24.

2009-03-26T02:48:49Z

Since December, I have partaken in several theatre oriented activites, the most recent and present is "I don't have a clue". Quite frankly, I don't have a clue as to why were doing this play, its terrible. The past few months very little has happened to me. A few rough patches with Ashley, a few adventures with other musicians. A few colleges applied to, fewer accepted into.

Today is March 25th 2009. In one day I wrote my entire life story on the internet for people to read. I have gotten countless responses and have proved that my life can make an interesting movie. This was a journey through my past and I am glad so many of you took it with me.

At the end of all of this, I would to Thank you all for taking the time to read this. I'm glad you guys enjoyed it, and if today is not March 25th 2009, I hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to give me feed back, and if you guys want, I will continue to tell my lifes story as it unfolds.

As for me right now, I am tired and my eyes hurt. It is time for me for one last time update the facebook status, update my away message, and close this macbook and continue my life, tomorrow.

Thank you all for reading.

BILDER

Chapter 23.

2009-03-26T02:39:03Z

Sure enough the guys felt the same way. I left that night, torn. I was like a kid passing another kid who just got pushed down in the hallway. Only I was the kid that got pushed down. I have grown so bitter towards myself for what ever reason, that I didn't even stop to pick myself up.

The next week was the performance of the musical. It went well. When it was over, I became very depressed further. I became really close with Derek, Jon, Evan, Hannah, Aly, Julia, Sam, Ben and Rob during this time and I would say that we are pretty close friends. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't be in such good shape. I also have Ashley to thank as well.

Chapter 22.

2009-03-26T02:28:53Z

It is a week before the show, December 5th. We are having rehearsels run till about 11 pm. And I have vocal jazz at around 6 am. I am spending a total of 17 hours a day at my school. With little time to get school work done, I am just about booked to the max. We have a show that Saturday. When I get home I get a call from Chris. He tells me were taking promos. I am about to collapse and I have to write a paper. We argue for some bit, we don't take the promos, we don't talk for 2 days.

That Saturday comes. December 7th. I have yet to hear from the guys. I call each of them. No answer. I call up Travis and asked him what hes doing. He told me that we dropped the show. At that point I knew my time in that band was over.

Chapter 21.

2009-03-26T02:14:06Z

WE HAVE ARRIVED. SENIOR YEAR! 21 Chapters in about 4 hours and countless positive response later. We are here. In the words of the not so great Eisenberg "WELCOME TO THE BIG SHOW!"

As I slowly fade from the band, I look to rekindle the fire in my heart. The school musical was my torch. I auditioned, shocking most of the theatre veterans. None of them, nor myself really had thought that I would get a part, let alone a lead. So when I got the supporting male role, most people were surprised. I became really close with people that I was always friends with but not really good friends with. These people would be Hannah and Aly. Of course I made even more new friends as well.

With this new change of pace, I started to do things a bit differently. This led me to my present girl friend Ashley. Where in the past I met all my lady friends at shows or parties, I met Ashley, in the school cafeteria. We hung out for a few weeks, when I eventually asked her out on Halloween.

Halloween may be the last time I was really close with my band mates. We were at a party at Kyles house. I remember it being filled with drama, it was one thing after the next. It was a good party though, so I can't complain.

The EP was half way done by November. I had lost complete interest in it. I was ashamed to be spending so much money on it. It was an improvement from what we were playing, but we could of done so much better in terms of writing. We practiced little, and spoke less. By the time December rolled around, we were like strangers.

Chapter 20.

2009-03-26T01:53:04Z

That Spring came and Valet Parking went on "Tour" with our good friends Casari. I can say that may have been one of the greatest weekends of my life. It was just a good time spent with good people and I wish I could relive that everyday. That summer we all became very close. We would go out to dinner frequently hang out most of the time and of course, meet new people.

Once again a girl enters my life and flips it upside down, Splash. I knew her from way back when. I met her at a show I played in Oceanside. We hung out a lot, but mostly in large groups. One day, we were having a party for Anthonys girl friend Alex and we were all there. It seemed very clear that every guy was trying to hook up with Splash. Why I was the one who actually did is beyond me. I remember this night like a dream. I felt like I was in a mix of American pie and Knocked up, it was great. The night progressed and Splash and I realized we had a shit load in common. We spent everyday together for the next week.

I was ready for a relationship, but she wasn't so we drifted. I went into a genuine depression. During this whole time, we were writing for our new EP. Matt told me to write about her. So I did. As the EP got closer to being ready to record, the song I wrote was scrapped. At this point, I had started drifting from the band.

Chapter 19.

2009-03-26T01:41:22Z

Ah. 11th grade. I am now an upper class men. I am what I once hung out with all the time. For a short period of time, a girl comes into my life and drives me wild, Steph T. Steph may be the first girl that showed me that there is a lot more to sex then what I had thought. I remember Steph from parties I used to go to. Most fondly would be megan browns. I got drunk and jumped in her pool. I then got naked and put my clothes in the dryer. As I waited for my clothes to dry, Steph and Julia joined me. That was a good night. So Steph and I start hooking up. A few months go by and then I ask her out. She said yes. So we decide to consimate it... while Zach and Matt are there. We being to have sex and confuse both of them. The mood was killed, once matt jumped on top of us.

Time went on and we grew apart. We still were friends, and still are, but we just werent ment to date.

Chapter 18.

2009-03-26T01:31:14Z

That April I discovered that I had at this point in time, developed a bad drinking problem. It was 4/20. The day you are smoking weed. Not my friends and I. It is 12 in the day, and we are drinking Gin. My friend Brian, drinks to the point, where he passes out. We try waking him up a billion different ways, nothing. We finally realize he needs help. We call his parents , 911 the whole fucking national guard. My mom comes home to 4 police cars, an ambulence, several intoxicated teens and Brian, in a coma. It turns out that he had a heart condition that we never would of found unless he got that drunk. So instead of walking away from that having learned a lesson, I deemed myself a hero.

Not to much really happened from that point untill 11th grade. I did make some amazing friends who to this day remain my closest and I wouldn't trade for the world.

Chapter 17.

2009-03-26T01:22:04Z

In 10th grade I met Nick. Like Matt, Nick and I had a past, one that he most likely dosen't remember. When I was in 6th grade, we would spit on cars out of the bus windows. Its odd how I met 1/2 of my band mates on a bus. Nick taught himself acoustic guitar. He was damn good at it too. He wrote his own material. Biggest inspiration was Jason Mraz. Nick was playing I'm Yours way before you fuckers started to hear it on Z100. Nick and I started to jam. I backed him on bass and sometimes vocals. I couldn't sing that well, still can't, but we were having a good time. Sure enough he joined Valet Parking too.

At this point in time, I was living my dream. I was a rock star. We gradually got bigger shows with bigger bands at bigger venues. It was great. So great that I became so tied up in the band, Monica and I broke up.

Chapter 16.

2009-03-26T01:14:05Z

I was in 9th grade, and if you put a gun to my head and threatened to pull the trigger, I'd say do it. I had already accomplished everything I had ever wanted to. My life was complete. Now this being said and true, I started making friends a little bit older then me. I was hanging out with seniors in High school and Freshman in college. Not many freshman are consider to be at the same maturity level as seniors so I felt pretty top dollar. The person that really got me into the older crowd was Dennis. Dennis and I became really close and are now not so close, for a million reasons, but I want to fix that. Anyway I started going to a lot of parties and was really living life.

My partying slowed down when I started to date Monica. Monica is a sweet sweet girl who I fell in love with. We also had our fair share of sexual escapades. She told me after we broke up, she became a nympho because of me. I felt like Ron fucking Jeremy.

Her and I faced our fair share of problems and split when I started to drink again, and I also started to experiment with pot. She wasn't to crazy about any of that. I soon became very tied up in all that and the band that we became very distant. By the time I was in 10th grade, we were fighting weekly.

Chapter 15.

2009-03-26T01:01:53Z

That October rolled in and I had found out that Crystal had cheated on me numerous times, with numerous people. Heart broken, I wrote a song about it rather then breaking up with her. She then told me to choose the song or her. No contest, the song.

The LI Scene was at its peak and Valet Parking was riding the wave. Getting regular slots at Calvary and other venues, we were building a fan base and getting more into all of it. But every good thing comes to an end. Scene kids started to show up at Calvary, with only one intention, to hit people. They would call it dancing. And it's true they were dancing, but they also were getting venues shut down and are in part, responsible for the shitty scene today.

After about another year or so, Calvary had its last show. I died inside that day. To make matters worse, Matt V had taken this band in a much more serious direction. We were told that we had 2 days to fly to California to get signed. The rest of us couldn't do this and Matt V left. He formed Stereo Skyline and we became rivals.

Chapter 14.

2009-03-26T00:52:12Z

Monday, usually a terrible day. Not this monday. This monday was the best monday in the history of mondays. Crystal and I had come to the conclusion that this was it, we were going to have sex. To mask any noise from my parents, I put on Star Wars Episode 3. Just as stated in the movie grease, I lasted a solid... 15 minutes. But those 15 minutes were amazing. Sex, became our relationship.

As usual, the summer came. Valet Parking was doing well. We were regulars at Calvary and a small bar called METAZIN. During early August, we played a show with a band called Aerosal. This band was Dane, the old drummer, and two other Matts. Matt M and Matt V.

Matt V and I Hit it off. We were instant friends. We knew each other for less then a month and he took me to see The Used in the city, in a fucking limo. He came to the Valet practices and one day before our show at Noche Blue, I asked the guys if they wanted a fourth member, Matt V. We all agreed and valet parking was once again a quartet.

Chapter 13.

2009-03-26T00:25:21Z

Mike removed a hunk of shrap metal from my forehead, and then was going to clean it with water from the sump. For those of you who aren't familiar with what a sump is, it is wear your sewage gets dumped.

Matt, Vin and myself started to walk home, knowing I needed help. We were thinking of ways to lie to my parents about it. I walked into figs to get a bottle of water and a paper towel to clean myself. The mother fucker charged me for it. I washed my face and watched as all my hair fell from my head to the street. We call up Jay, he is good at lying. He says to tell them I feel into a pot hole. So I did. Of course it didn't work. I had no eye brows. I was rushed to the burn unit, and grounded. I missed my first Calvary show in 2 years that month. I was devestated.

I recovered and went on with my life. I couldn't do wrestling cause of the burn, so once again, my winter was left with nothing to do but partake in sexual activities.

Memorial day of 8th grade is another day, I will never forget. The day I lost my virginity.

Chapter 12.

2009-03-26T00:17:13Z

I had no idea or intention then, but Crystal would become my first real girl friend. We dated for 15 months. Some was good, some was bad. What can you do, thats life. We slowly got to know each other.

8th grade rolled in and once again, I did not mind. That september would be the month that Valet Parking played their first show, Calvary. We were the opening act so we didn't anticipate a crowd. We had the largest crowd in Calvary history for an opening band. I was on top of the world. WE EVEN GOT PAID! 60 BUCKS! Seems like nothing, but for those of you not in the scene, that is a generous amount of money to be given for playing a show.

As 8th grade progressed, so did my sex life. We were doing everything kids in middle school shouldn't be. I was the fucking king of the world.

That New Years came along and all my friends and I got pretty drunk. This of course upset my parents. On bad ends with them I left my house for the sump.

It was January 2nd, 2005. I will never forget that. Matt, both Vins and myself met up with Mike D, Ben and a few other people. We decided to decorate the sump with furniture we were stealing from a dumpster up the block. It was January so it was cold. We made a fire within a tire and all huddled around it. I, like an asshole, threw what I thought was an empty can of butane in. My thoughts were only reconfirmed when it didn't explode. Mike started to hit the fire with a stick, claiming he was an "Indian". He was trying to Native American. He was playing on the fact that in movies, "Indians" were potrayed as people who watch images in fire. He spoke "Many moons ago..." A hissing started to sound and then, a flash. I though I was dead, It was a white flash, outlined in yellow, then everything was black. I couldn't hear anything. After that moment, we all looked around and laughed, until someone spotted my face. Mike came up to me, opened his knife and showed me my reflection. My face was burnt half way to hell.

Chapter 11.

2009-03-25T23:59:33Z

So the 7th grade ended and summer began. I still went to shows and was still in a band. I started to get really close to Joe. I met Joe on the football team. He was shortly inducted into my grouping of friends.

As kids, we didn't have much to do, but we were creative and made our own fun. We made up a scavenger hunt, which resulted in a lot of us doing dumb shit on camera. It was stupid, but in retrospect it was cool that we were able to do something. Now we mostly just sit and complain that there is nothing to do.

August came faster then I could of imagined. I was still playing my little game at Calvary, but this time things ended up a little differently.

It was dark, Patent Pending was on, the night was coming to a close. I have yet to hook up with anyone. Then all of a sudden, I spot her. A blonde. Looks lonely. I make my move. We start hooking up. Chalk one up for Bilder. People around us are cheering me on, its great. One person yells "Do you even know her name!?" I didn't, so I asked. Her name was Crystal.

Chapter 10.

2009-03-25T23:51:08Z

Kate and I never really got too close, cause she was friends with Amanda from down the block. But as time went on, we started to become attracted to one another. One day of during the winter, Kate and I went to my house. She told me her hands were cold. I, thinking that I was slick, told her she can put them in my pants to warm them up. Instead of this, she put my penis in her mouth. I was at a loss for words. This was my first time getting head, so I didn't know any better, but had I did I would of said "CHILL WITH THE TEETH!". It didn't matter then though, I was in 7th grade and ready for anything. This happened a few more times until Amanda's mom found out we were in my house alone. That ended our relationship. I didn't know what to do with myself, so I started going to basketball games at the middle school. After one of them, I got into a fight. I was banned from after school activities till the spring. I wanted to do wrestling, but now I couldn't. So I started to get with Larrisa and Denise. We would lay the 3 of us in Denises moms bed, fooling around and having a good time. It was great. I was so blissful it was not even funny. All of this ended in the spring. I once again, joined a sport against my parents will, Lacrosse. I wasn't to great at it, but I got to hit people with a stick so it was cool.

Chapter 9.

2009-03-25T23:34:01Z

7th grade continued as it would even if I hadn't became part of the scene. At school I was the same person, I just had something no one else had. But since I loved it, I became part of the cause. I would walk around school handing out flyers like it was my job. Through this is met more "punks". Rob is one of them. Rob had multiple colored die in his hair and dressed very similar to me. Rob and I would go to school dances and other shit like that, and be the typical bad seeds. We also became obsessed with Bill Cosby and his juices.

As time went on, Calvary got more popular and well known. My friends would show up and Nat knew right away, "they were with Bilder". At these shows I met countless people who I now consider my closest friends. I also met hook ups. Each month I tried to get with some one new. It was a great game, and I always won. One of these hook ups was a red headed girl named Steph. We "dated" for a bit. But it ended when I fingered her at the movie theater while we were watching "Anchorman" with all our friends. When it was over I went to the bathroom and when my friends Vin and Robby asked what happened, I replied with "Smell my fingers!". Little did I know, Steph was able to hear all of this. That was the end of me and her. But I was young and didn't really seem to care. Out with the old, in with the new. The new Happened to be the librarians daughter, Kate.

Chapter 8.

2009-03-25T23:24:13Z

My mom drove us to this church, located on the other side of town. None of us had any idea what we were getting into. I remember my mom telling us all not to do drugs and responding with "ITS A CHURCH!" as if we did drugs anywhere else. We entered into the basement where the shows were held, greeted by Nat who told us to hang out and that we can play games and get food in the back. All of this was very strange to us. The place was empty, no band was playing. We were early... Sure enough the place filled up. The first band to play was Matts cousins friends band, Vox Populi. Dave came up to me and was like are you ready to mosh. I had no idea what he was talking about, but I said, "YES!" When they started playing, a pit opened up and I was swallowed in a sea of people. When the first song was over. I walked out of the pit with a huge smile on, ready for more. I moshed the entire set, and most of the night. Numerous bands played that night, most notable were Code:Adrenaline, Blind Culture and Patent Pending. All of them pop punk, all of them instant inspirations.

At the end of the night, I went up to Nat, and told him that I wanted to play here, he said give me your info and I'll see what I can do. I had found nirvana. I went to every show, every month. I even started attending other things the church was doing that was ran by Nat. He was my savior, my jesus.

Chapter 7.

2009-03-25T23:15:17Z

It was the 4th of july. I love this day. Why? Cause everyone and there grandma are trowing block parties. I went to one with a bunch of my friends around the block. As it was getting late, Jay asked me if I wanted a beer. Without any hesitation I said yes. We snuck into some ones backyard where they were keeping the beer, and stole some. We ran down the block and started to drink it. We both got pretty drunk. I was in heaven. This may be the cause for my drinking problem today.

The summer ended and school began. I didn't care to much cause now I was allowed to participate in sports. Against my parents will, I signed up for football. I made the team. My parents weren't too thrilled and I think they only came to 3 games all together. But that was ok, cause sports weren't my forte, music was. And with no better timing, my friend David showed me something called The Calvary.

The Calvary was a church. This church had a youth group. This youth group had Nat. Nat may possibly be the greatest man I have ever met. I would take a bullet for him, in a heartbeat.

Nat wasn't to conventional. He ran something called "Calvary Shows". Every month, a bunch of bands came together and played music. It was great. I didn't wind up going till the November show of '03. Matts cousins friends band was playing, we knew about it from Dave. We said "fuck it lets go!"

Chapter 6.

2009-03-25T23:03:31Z

The rest of the 6th grade carried out pretty normal. That is if normal consists of what I was experiencing for the first time at that age. Puperty hit me like a sack of bricks. Pupes, armpit hair, deeper voice, the whole 9 yards. So yea, I was horny as hell. Puperty also hit Tiffany, Alyssa and a few other girls pretty hard, as well as a few of the guys. Tiffany was by far the most developed and every guys dream girl. We all wanted to go out with her, as if we were really going on dates and shit. I asked her out countless times, and when she said yes, I went off and fucked around with Alyssa. So I was already acting like a typical American husband.

Towards the end of 6th grade, I met Danielle. She was 2 years older then me, and 2 times more horny then me. We would meet up really early before the bus got to the bus stop, where she would give me hand jobs. When she went up to the high school, we stopped talking for awhile.

The summer in between 6th and 7th grade was a good summer. I was in a band and we were recording shitty demos in my basement. We played shows in backyards for our friends and all that. It was a good time, and we were all having fun. But this summer was monumental for me for another reason. This is the summer when I started to experiment with alcohol.

Chapter 5.

2009-03-25T22:52:42Z

Chris and I would soon become more then band mates. We started to hang out frequently and became close friends. And what was even better then this, is we finally had a drummer. Sadly, Jay still wasn't up to par with the rest of us. I remember this as one of the hardest days of my life. The day we asked Jay to leave. Jay was and is to this day, a great person and a great friend, and asking him to leave was heart breaking. But we felt it needed to be done.

For some reason, we felt the need to replace him. This is odd to me still to this day. Our idols, Blink, were a trio, as in 3. We were always looking to be at least a quartet. It was strange but I guess we just wanted another guitar player. Chris new a kid named Jake. Jake stepped up and took Jays spot. He learned the songs quick, and he even "wrote" songs. One day he showed us a song called, "I kissed a drunk girl".
1. He did not kiss a drunk girl, he was in 7th grade.
2. He did not write this song, Something Corporate did.

This scandal if you will, and the fact that he always had soccer practice, got him expelled from the band.
So now finally we decided that we would remain a 3 piece.

Chapter 4.

2009-03-25T22:42:42Z

Valet Parking went through multiple stages, members, names ect. Jay played snare drum in McVeys big band, so to us that ment he could play drums. Zach also picked up the guitar. We had a band, kinda. This set up did not work. Jay couldn't acquire more then a snare drum, and Zach couldn't learn guitar. So the switched. Because Zach was spoiled, my parents bought him a set. Jay was not so fortunate. We had car washes and all sorts a shit like that to get him a guitar. For his birthday we even bought him an amp. Jays brother Mike, who through this became like my older brother, joined us as our singer. We were good to go, kinda.

Sadly things didn't really work out with Zach and Jay and the instrument swap. And Mike started writing really depressing lyrics. We weren't for that. Back then, it was about having fun. We didn't care about a message or if people even like what we were playing. Getting famous of course was a thought, but priority number one was having a good time, or at least I thought. We kicked out Zach and Mike. Jay was a really good friend and he was trying so we didn't give up on him. So now we needed a drummer. Matt wanted Dane, I wanted Dane, Jay wanted Dane. My mom did not. She of course was livid that we kicked out Zach. What she didn't understand and still dosen't, is that Zach is very fickle. He wants something one day, and wants nothing to do with it the next. In terms of the band, and music in general, he didn't really want to put any effort in, so as result we gave him the boot.

Because Zach is blood, I got dragged into a whole mess of bull shit. As if I were a terrible person for cutting loose what was holding me back. I didn't kill him, I just asked him to leave. My mom was ruthless. This resulted in some bad blood between matt and myself, resulting in a "break up". 2 weeks pass and its like nothing.

So its Matt, Jay, and myself again. The three Musketeers. Matt knew a kid that played drums and we all agreed to try him out. This kid, was Chris.